Rail-road-car-buffer construction.



G. E. COUTANT A E. LEHMANN.

HMLROAD CAR BUFFER CUNSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILEDJUNEI6.19II.

Patented July 2, 12H8.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

fu H l IN VEN TORS. 6'. E @uw WITNESS G. E. COUTANT A. E. LEHMANN.

RAILROAD CAR BUFFER CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED IUNE I6. IBI?.

Patentedjuly 2, 1918.

2 swims-SHEET 2.

Illl| IIIII i, II

WITNESS I ATTO EY UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIcE.

GEORGE E. COUTANT, OF PERU, INDIANA, AN D ARTHUR E. LEHMANN, OF ST. CHARLES, MISSOURI.

BAILROAD-CAR-BUFFER CONSTRUCTION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2, 1918.

To all 'whom t may concern Be it known that we, GEORGE E. CoU'rANT and ARTHUR E. LEHMANN, citizens of the cars, to support the buffer plate with the` diaphragm face plate carried thereby, on the outer ends of two relatively small stems. Due to the almost constant movement of the bui'er plate when the cars are in service, the said side stems wear out very rapidly thereby permitting the bulfer plate and diaphragm face plate to sag, in addition to requiring frequent repairs. Furthermore, the almost constant movement of the side stems which, have to carry the load, results in a noise which is disagreeable especially to the passengers on passenger cars.

The object of our invention is to provide A a butler arrangement for railroad car equipmentlwherein the buii'er plate is supported independently of any side or center stems, the construction being such that a large wearing area is provided between the buffer plate and the buffer beam to thereby decrease the rate of wear, to prevent sag, to minimize noise and simplify the application and removal of buffer.

More speciiically, the object of our invention is to provide a buffer arrangement of' 'the type above indicated wherein the buii'er plate 1s provided with an inward extension approximately the full width of the buffer plate, which extension slides in a corresponding recess provided in the buffer beam y and by which the buffer plate is slidingly su ported.

n the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional view, taken just above the floor level of a car, and showing, in full lines, the 'normal position of the buffer plate. The dotted lines indicate one of the positions assumed by the buii'er plate when thc car is coupled up with an adjacent car and is passing .around a curve. Fig. 2 is a central, longitudinal, vertical, sectional view, taken substantially on the lines 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but taken on the lines 3 3 of Fig, 1. Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical, sectional view, taken substantially on the line 4 1 of Fig. 1. And Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1, illustrating another lembodiment of the invention.

Referring to the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, 10 denotes the` platform of a car which, in general construction, is substantially the same as those now in service. Said platform 10 is provided with a central recess 11a in which is located the buffer mechanism proper 11. On each side of the buffer mechanism is located a side stem l2 which is slidably mounted in suitable partitions 13-13, each side stem being under the control of a spring 14 in the usual manner. A central or main buffer stem 15 is provided which coperates with the front follower 16 of the buffer mechanism.

The platform 10 is provided at its outer or front edge with a buffer beam, designated generally by the references 17 and 17, the former indicating the lower section of the 'buffer beam and the reference 17a the up er section thereof, said sections 17 and 17a eing separated by a horizontal recess 18 which extends transversely of the bui'er beam and is provided for the purpose hereinafter described. The buffer beam is round on its forward face, as indicated at 19, in the usual manner.

The buffer plate is indicated generally by the reference A and, as shown, comprises a buffer plate portion 20 proper and an inwardly or rearwardly disposed extension 21, said extension 21 being of a width approximating the full width of the buffer late and slidable within said recess 18 ormed in the buffer beam. Said extension is integral with the plate 20 and along its rear face is provided with a central projection 22 against which engages the central builer stem 15. At either side of the projection 22, said extension 21 is provided with faces 23 against which normally bear the forward ends of the side stems 12 and in this connection, it will be noted that the outer ends of all the stems are normally disparts. The buffer beam is provided with suitable wear plates 24, 25 and 26 for the extension 21 and the stems (see Figs. 2 and 4). Also, the rear face of the extension 21 is provided with suitable wear plates 27, 28 and 29 for engagement with the side and central buffer stems, as will be clear from an inspection of Fig. 1. v

In order to retain the buffer plate in position and valso to permit tht necessary sliding and swinging movements thereof,`said extensionis provided with three slots 30, 31 and 32. The slot 30 is located at the center of the extension 21 and extends parallel to the center line of the car. Extending through said slot 30 is a heavy pin 33 `carried by the buffer beam and which is held in position by any suitable means such as a bolt 34. The slot 30 is of the same width throughout its entire length, said width corresponding to the diameter of the `pin 33 so that the buer plate does not have lateral movement with respect to said pin 33. Each of thel other slots 31 and 32 is tapered from rear to front, as `clearly indicated in Fig. 1, and extending through said slots are other pins 35-35,.the, latter being also supported in the buffer beam and held in position by bolts 34. The diameter ofthe pinsy 3 5 corresponds substantially to the minimum width of the slots 31 and 32 so that the buffer plate when swinging will not bind and the necessary freedom of movement is permitted AWhile at the same time preventing undesirable lateral movement of the bufter plate.

In order to reduce the amount of metal required, the extension' 21 may be recessed, as indicated at 36-36. The plate portion 20 proper is provided with an upper rearwardly extending horizontal ange 37 which is adapted to slide over a horizontal face 38 on the upper portion of the buer beam` and acts as a support 'for theI usual foot plate 40 which slides beneaththe usual Hoor plate 41 carried by the buffer beam.

From thepreceding description, it 'will' be seen that .the entire weight of the buier plate and associated parts, is supported by the extension 21 which slides with a smooth fit in the recess providedin the buffer beam v and consequently the side stems are relieved of all load and are employed merely for the purpose of forcing the buer plate out to normal position and preventing improper swinging movements thereof. The 'pin and slot connections between the buffer plate and thebufer beam permit the necessary movements of the buifer plate while at the same time forming Suitable guides for the buer plat-e. On account of the exposition, the center stem 115 for thebuffer I mechanism has rockably mounted thereon4 at its outer end a spring holding band 50 through which extend bowed springs 51,.the latter at their endsv bearing against the rear face of the'buiienplate extension 121 and by which the latter' is normally forced outi wardly and held in proper position.` The inner projection 122 on the extension 121 is normallyA spaced from the front face of the band 50 so that the springs 51 will be flexed and under tension when the cars -arecoupled, It is believed the construction in operation will be understood without further description in View ofthe more detailed description given of. the construction illus- Atrated in Figs.` 1 and 4.

We claim: 1. In car construction, the combination with a buffer beam having 4a central, hori zontal recess extending transversely of the`` beam and open, along its forward edge, of a ybuffer plate having a central, horizontalextension on theginn'er side thereof, said extension being slidable within said .recess'fand -forming the support forfthe buffer... late,

pin and slot connections between sai extension and the buffer beam for limiting theoutward movement of the bufferplate and at the same time permitting the necessary.4 -slidinig and swinging movement thereof, and a bu er for yieldingly 'resisting' inward movement of the buffer plate.

.2; In carl construction, the combination with a buffer beam having a single, elongated horizontal recess extending vtransversely thereofand open along its forward edge, of a buffer plate having a corresponding horizontalV extension on the ,inner side thereof slidable within said recess, said extension forming the sole support `for the buffer plate, means limiting the outward and lateral movement 'of the buffer plate with respect to thebufer beam, a bu'er mechanism, and spring-operatedmeans acting againstthe lateral portions of said extension and within the buffer beam for holding the buffer plate in normal position;

3.- In car construction, the combination with a bu'er beam having a transversely extending horizontal recess in its forward face, of a buffer plate having atransversely' extending flange on lts inner face sldable.

within said recess and-forming the support for the buffer plate, means for limiting the outward movement of the buffer plate with respect to the buffer beam, buffer mechanism, and spring-controlled slidable side stems engaging the rear edge of said flange at either side of the center, the outer ends ofsaid side stems being always disposed within the buffer beam. I

4. In car construction, the combination with a bul'er beam having a horizontally extending recess in its forward face, of a buffer plate having an integral extension on its inner side slidably mounted within said 15 recess, said extension forming the support for the buffer plate, said extension being provided with slots, pins carried by the buffer beam extending through said slots and adapted to limit the outward movement of the buffer beam while at the same time permitting sliding and swinging movements thereof, a buffer mechanism, and means for yieldingly pressing the lateral portions of said extension to maintain the bu'er plate in proper position. v

In witness that we claim the foregoing, we have hereunto subscribed our names this 26th day of May, A. D. 1917.

GEORGE E. COUTANT. ARTHUR E. LEHMANN. 

